Kukla's Korner Hockey

"It's a minor goal on the way to our major goal," Blues captain David Backes said. "That's nice to have with a number of games remaining in the season but our ultimate goal this year was not to get into the playoffs. It shows you the evolution and the culture around here. That's what we were trying to create a few years ago and now we've started to create it. We need this to be perpetual."

The Blues have 101 points and could become the first team in the NHL this season to clinch a spot with any kind of win over Chicago.

"Hopefully we can clinch that, but right now we're in kind of playoff mode a little bit where we need to still make a couple of steps to be where we need to be at entering playoffs," said Blues forward T.J. Oshie, who will be back in the lineup after becoming a first-time father on Monday. "So tonight is a big test for us and a big stepping stone."